Thanks for the help, folks. I'm no stranger to urban areas but I'd rather drive, if I can, just to avoid the hassle of learning my way around another public transit system.
If I do go downtown (likely), I probably won't be doing so until 6 or 7 pm. Will traffic have abated a bit by then?

It'll still probably suck until after 7, and even then it will be slow. I wouldn't leave before 7.

My favorites are Kuma Corner for the best burger you have ever had. And the Map room for beer. I am sure there are other great spots, but those two are my favorites so far.

Two excellent choices. It takes forever to get a table at Kuma's but the wait is shorter if you can find a spot at the bar. Their beer selection is pretty good, but they sometimes run out of more than one beer at a time.

Parking can be a PITA at some places. Map Room and Kuma's aren't too bad. Goose Island has a lot. Piece and the River North area will be harder to find a spot on the street. River North has several garages, but they can be very $$.

Well, damn. The guys I am going out with want to come up near O'Hare (they're down at Midway) to do something, Geno's Pizza or some such. Not clear on the details. So I guess it's the Ram Brewery, possibly. I've been there before on trips to DePaul.

Not what I was hoping for but I don't want to venture downtown by myself. The tips are welcome and pushed into my brain for the next trip.

Now that I think about it, I may just go downtown anyway. Who knows.

It is not easy being a beer snob on a beat full of BMC guys. Can't wait for hoops travel to start so I can hang with my beer snob buddy.

The Geno's by O'Hare sucks, stay away from it. It is flavorless compared to the downtown Geno's. The Giordano's in the area is slightly better. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area though.

The Geno's by O'Hare sucks, stay away from it. It is flavorless compared to the downtown Geno's. The Giordano's in the area is slightly better. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area though.

Thanks. Now to convince these other boobs to go somewhere else. We used to have a crew of writers who did the traveling thing well. Not anymore.

I am sad. One night in Chicago and they want to stay by the airport and get pizza. Jesus, I can get pizza at home.

Kuma's is about equidistant between the two airports IIRC. You could easily stay there for drinks if you are alright with a crowded place. The wait is long in my experience, usually at least an hour, sometimes two.